Psychic Abilities

As I said last month, I love research. For Twilight Magic and Magic In His Kiss, I was able to delve into more than the specifics of the medieval time period. Each of my heroines needed a psychic ability. But what?

For Emma in Twilight Magic, the decision wasn't hard. I already had a scene in mind where she sees Darian for the first time, and she recognizes him as the lover she'd once seen in a vision. All I needed to do was find out how visions work! I could have had Emma see Darian in a dream, but it seemed to me that dream visions were too easy (and too much like the TV show Medium). Crystal ball? No, too gypsy related. Peering into smooth-surfaced water held more appeal, and that way Emma could avoid the visions if she chose – and the reason why she chooses to avoid them appealed to me, too!

Finding Nicole's ability for Magic In His Kiss proved a bit more difficult. Since I'd used "sight" with Emma, I thought I should use "sound" with Nicole. Once I decided she needed to hear something or someone, the task became easier. Nicole is able to hear the voices of the dead, with the restriction that she only hears those spirits who haven't yet passed on to the afterlife. Such a spirit is her brother, who turns out to be a nasty pest!

All the while I was doing the research I wondered what it might be like to have a psychic ability. I dithered between thinking it might be fun, and being wary of finding out things I might not want to know. I've come to the conclusion that the one thing I would like to have is the ability to remember where I put something down. Like the cup of coffee I was carrying around, or the shoes I kicked off someplace, or the book I was reading, or my car keys.

What about you? If you could choose a talent or ability, what would it be?

To celebrate the release of MAGIC IN HIS KISS, I'm giving away an autographed copy of the book to someone who comments. Winner will be announced in the comments at about noon CST on Thursday, July 3^rd. Y'all come back to see if you've won because I'll need your address

Shari Anton

MAGIC IN HIS KISS, Available Now!
www.sharianton.com

How the Magic trilogy came to be ...

I love reading history books. I'm particularly fascinated by anything written about Medieval or Victorian England, or about the U.S. Civil War or Old West. Which means I can as easily curl up with a book by Francis and Joseph Gies or Peter Cross as I can with an historical romance.

My interests have made it very easy for friends and family to buy me gifts. If they don't know exactly what book to buy, they know I'll be thrilled with a gift card from any of the local bookstores. On one such buying binge I found a couple of books on King Arthur, then spent the next couple of weeks delightedly immersed in the ancient legends.

I know you've all heard of Arthur and Merlin, and probably saw Camelot or one of the other movies about their adventures. You likely know that after Arthur was mortally wounded he was carried off to the magical Isle of Avalon. Merlin, that wonderful sorcerer, then proclaims that at Britain's time of most dire need, King Arthur will return – presumably to set things right.

This is where I scoffed. Think about it. Arthur is off on this magical isle, probably seated in a comfy chair and being waited on hand and foot. By the mid-1100's, he's been enjoying the cushy life for several hundred years and hasn't given Britain a thought for an eon. I figure this man is going to need a nudge. But by whom and how?

Thus was born Gwendolyn, the heroine of Midnight Magic. She's the guardian of a spell, fashioned by Merlin and handed down through the female line of Pendragon, to call King Arthur from Avalon at the time of Britain's most dire need. Naturally, there are a few complications!

Gwendolyn has two sisters who have nothing to do with her problem with the spell. The thing was, I figured that since both Emma (Twilight Magic) and Nicole (Magic In His Kiss) were also princesses of Pendragon they should have some special abilities of their own. More on that in my July blog.

Is there a particular period in history that fascinates you? If we had a time machine, where and when would like to visit?

Shari Anton
MAGIC IN HIS KISS, July 2008
Visit my web site